NEWPORT – The U.S. Naval War College will hold a change of command ceremony on Tuesday, July 2, to welcome the college’s 54th president Rear Adm. Walter E. “Ted” Carter Jr.

Carter is succeeding Rear Arm. John N. Christenson, who assumed command of the War College on March 30, 2011. Christenson is leaving for his next assignment as deputy U.S. military representative to NATO Military Committee in Brussels.

Before taking the helm at the War College, Carter was director for the Navy’s Twenty-first Century Soldier Office. At sea he commanded the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group 12, the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Camden. Ashore, Carter also commanded the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command.

According to a War College release, Carter has accumulated 6,150 flight hours in F-4, F-14, and F-18 aircraft with 2,016 carrier-arrested landings, the record among all active and retired U.S. naval aviation designators. He has flown 125 combat missions.

The change of command ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the college’s Spruance Hall auditorium, with guest speaker Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert.

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